Brave Beckham boosts England’s bid

David Beckham promoted England’s 2018 World Cup bid to Fifa bigwigs, despite the sad death of his beloved grandfather.

Joseph West died yesterday at the age of 83, with Beckham being informed after landing in Cape Town.

It is understood the former England captain, 34, who is with the bid team on the 2018 campaign trail, wants to stay and do his best to help.

However, he could return to England if the funeral takes place in the next few days.

Yesterday, he held talks with two of football’s most powerful figures in his effort to get England’s 2018 World Cup bid on course.

Beckham, who was scheduled to be involved in the draw ceremony, spoke to Fifa president Sepp Blatter and vice-president Jack Warner, alongside Lord Triesman, the bid and Football Association chairman.

David Beckham discussed England’s bid with Fifa chief Sepp BlatterLast month, Warner revealed England’s bid had ‘not wowed’ the committee but after talking to Beckham, he said: ‘It was a good meeting with some pleasant chit-chat. He asked my advice on how best to proceed in the bid, which I was happy to give.”

Triesman was delighted with Beckham’s impact, saying: ‘We had some excellent meetings including with the Fifa president Sepp Blatter and with vice-president Jack Warner.

‘David was hugely impressive in those meetings. It is clear that legacy is central to the hopes of Fifa and any successful bid.

‘This area is one of David’s great passions and will be integral to our bid.’

Beckham told Blatter of his delight to be in South Africa, having felt honoured to meet the country’s former president Nelson Mandela on a previous visit.

Beckham told http://www.fifa.com: ‘It was a very relaxed, light-hearted conversation and it was good to speak to him.

‘Mr Blatter is not just the Fifa president and a powerful man in football, but he’s a very, very good person as well, which is more important.

‘When I was last here with England, I had the honour of meeting Nelson Mandela. That was the highlight of my career; to meet such a great man and a strong man and such a passionate man about sport and life will always stay with me.’